Game 2010.039: White Sox at Tigers

The last time the Tigers played a rousing home series they went and got themselves swept in Minnesota. This time they are at least staying at home and welcoming in the White Sox. Rick Porcello looks to build on his best start of the year and Freddy Garcia takes the ball for the White Sox.

69 Comments

thennr21

May 17, 2010 at 3:37 pm

Is there any talk of what might happen if Dontrelle continues his slide towards his previous pitching woes? Who might be his replacement? And if they make a move, do they bring up a minor leaguer or go to the bullpen for a pitcher?

This rain-out could allow us to skip Willis’ spot in the rotation. That might not be a bad idea.

stephen

May 17, 2010 at 9:57 pm

A better idea would be to permanently skip Willis’ spot in the rotation.

Keith (Mr. X)

May 18, 2010 at 7:59 am

I think something like that will happen soon. Willis next start could very well be his last. I’m out of excuses and apologies for him. I think he’s dragging the team down every time he pitches, even the few times he’s pitched well. Watching him pitch is giving me an anxiety disorder now. Just 8 days before we can bring back Scherzer.

I’m ready to cut ties with Inge also. How many chances have we given this guy? Hopefully his last. I’m done with Lloyd McClendon too.
I’d like to see us trade for Alex Gordon or any decent 3B prospect. How about Brandon Laird?

scotsw

May 18, 2010 at 9:39 am

Keith,

Your plan, “Get rid of everyone on the team who is not above league-average,” is a brilliant piece of strategery. How did you come up with it?

Are you Mike Ilitch’s ex-wife? Given the way you’d like to spend his money…

Also, while Willis’ post-influenza start was not a thing of beauty, by several standards he has been a much better starter this year than Scherzer. His ERA is about 1 1/2 runs/game better than Porcello’s, and nearly 3 runs better than Scherzer’s. And who has had the most trouble with walks this year? Fu-Te Ni, with 12 walks in 14 innings, a worse rate than Willis’ 22 walks in 32.2 innings.

So, no, I don’t think he’s down to his last start, Mr. X. But if and when Scherzer puts together 2-3 great starts in Toledo, the pressure’s on.

kathy

May 18, 2010 at 12:18 pm

Willis isn’t going anywhere unless he starts throwing crazy again. He still has a strong arm. When he’s good, and he has shown to be very good at times, he is very, very good. Just not sure if this is the Willis that will emerge as the season moves on.

andre

May 18, 2010 at 11:42 am

Keith,

Tigers have been in the top-5 for team-OBP all year. McClendon isn’t going anywhere. He can’t help the cards he’s been dealt in terms of Everett, Laird and (to a lesser extent) Inge. None of them are off to great starts, although Inge (defensive specialist) is 4th on the team with 19 RBI. You would have liked to have seen Sizemore and Avila do better…but if we’re judging a hitting coach based off rookie performances, then he gets the credit for Jackson and Boesch, no?

I’m not too familiar with Gordon, but just going off what’s on FanGraphs, it seems like whatever modest gains in OPS he has over Inge, he more than loses out overall when defensive ability is thrown into the mix. I haven’t heard much in the way of a 3B prospect working their way up the Tiger’s system, so I think they’d be much better off sticking with Inge until a suitable FA becomes available.

Brandon Laird, again don’t know much about him, but do you mean the guy who’s OPS keeps dropping like 100pts each level of the minors he goes up? Wouldn’t be a problem if he started at something ridiculous like 1.500, but he didn’t, so it is.

mat

May 18, 2010 at 12:43 pm

I agree about McClendon. He’s doing a good job with what he has.

RBI is a weak defense of Inge. His spot in the lineup is an RBI-opportunity goldmine. He has hit either 5th or 6th in nearly every game behind Cabrera, Boesch, and Guillen. I think he’ll lead the league in LOB.

Personally, I’d like to see Guillen move to 3rd base. If he has the mobility to turn double plays he should be able to cover the occasional bunt. His arm is solid and we know he has good hands and reactions that should translate to defending 3rd. Guillen’s contract makes him nearly untradeable but he can still be an asset for the Tigers. Inge should be a backup catcher and utility man (the Don Kelly role), but since his attitude is so selfish, that won’t work. Trade him.

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 12:59 pm

But then who are you going to play at second? Sizemore is already manning a locker in Toledo.

Inge is actually statistically having a very good year defensively–statistically in that we all know he is a great athlete who makes plays most guys can’t, but up to this point he has also has a low error count. Plus, although he is frustrating to watch when he does that big wave of his bat at a ball in a dirt three times a game, he does come up with key hits. Plus, he is a 7-hole hitter with 60-80 RBI potential. And this talk of trading him again fails to incorporate what we have to give up for a better player than Inge. Barring a dramatic loss of his defensive skills/a run of errors, Inge is fine where he is.

mat

May 18, 2010 at 1:23 pm

Can we please stop talking about his RBI and RBI potential? Thats a function of opportunity. Everett has 60-80 rbi potential if he hits in front of Damon, Ordonez and Cabrera. Doesn’t make him a good hitter.

I’m aware, and don’t dispute the fact, that Inge is an excellent defender. But defensive stats are still a little fuzzy and its hard to determine the real value of that. Regardless, he shouldn’t be hitting 5th or 6th.

The issue is one of roster management. Guillen is expensive and signed for a while. You can’t trade him without eating a ton of money. Inge, OTOH, has a reasonable salary that another team might take on. Opening up 2nd is fine for now, but eventually Sizemore will need back into the lineup. Ramon Santiago and Worth for now…Sizemore when he gets right. Or is the fanbase already calling it a career for Sizemore?

kathy

May 18, 2010 at 1:28 pm

Already stated how I felt about him.

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 1:48 pm

The potential is based on the number of RBIs he has currently times the number of months remaining. Nothing more. And looks like he just picked up another.

stephen

May 18, 2010 at 7:14 pm

Dr. Detroit. Really? Inge is fine where he is? Are we talking about the same player? The guy with the career oba hovering around 300 who has a 3 to 1 strikeout to rbi ratio?? He comes up with key hits, when? He’s a great #9 hitter. That is all.

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 8:23 pm

Again with the getting rid of Inge contingent. Fine, then come up with a better alternative. Are you going to pluck some player out of the air like our old friend TSE? Who do you have in mind? Guillen? Great, then who is going to play second? Sizemore? He is in AAA for a reason. You have to come up with a better alternative, a FEASIBLE, better alternative before you start talking about getting rid of him. I mean, seriously, this stuff was hashed out in the off-season: who are you going to get to play 3rd who is better than Inge? And how are you going to get him?

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 8:48 pm

And, you have to define what you think a key hit is? Mine, when guys are on base, in scoring position, and/or late inning hits with the game tied or down runs. You can go over to Stats ‘r’ Us to find out, which I don’t discourage you from doing, but for now we can simplify it by looking at his RBI totals: his RBI totals as you state pale in comparison to his strikeouts and on-base percentage. Yes, they suck, but the fact that he has a comparitively high RBI total for a guy who has bottom-feeder numbers in other areas is partly an argument that when he DOES hit, he is driving in runs, i.e. gets key hits. He does not do it everytime, and yes he whiffs at more balls in the dirt than most anyone I have ever watched, but until we can find someone who plays his caliber of defense, hits for a higher average and more RBIs, or some other offensive category, AND you can package Inge and player(s) to get this guy, he is fine where he is.

andre

May 18, 2010 at 1:11 pm

Mat,

I agree that, looking at all of the league’s 3Bs, 19 RBI isn’t impressive and his rank on the team says as much about the relative condensation (?) of production towards the top of the order as it does about Inge. On the other hand, Inge is at the corner for his defense first, bat second. And while he’s hitting in a nice spot, Guillen was driving runs in at a lower rate to start the season in a similar rotation slot.

Wait, did I just get baited into an Inge argument?

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 1:34 pm

Hey, Inge happens

stephen

May 18, 2010 at 7:11 pm

Please don’t get Inge traded or benched before he breaks the all-time strikeout record. I’m planning my whole summer around complaining about it.

stephen

May 18, 2010 at 7:10 pm

I’m not interest in Brandon Laird, the unholy cyborg offspring of our weak-hitting third baseman and our no-hitting catcher.

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 1:16 pm

Did not JL say that he wants the starters to cut down the balls and pound the strike zone more.

andre

May 18, 2010 at 1:21 pm

That was yesterday, I think. Today’s pre-game press conference saw Smokey call for more balls. Lots of em.

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Thank goodness we got out of the first only giving up 1 run. Hopefully RP will settle down and we won’t have any more anxious innings.

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Here’s JOHNNY!!!

Keith (Mr. X)

May 18, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Damon goes yard and ties it. Nice.

Keith (Mr. X)

May 18, 2010 at 1:38 pm

inge baby inge. he’s trying to win back my love

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 1:38 pm

RBInge!

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 1:42 pm

Ah, nothing like R3L2O Laird-Fail to spoil the fun

kathy

May 18, 2010 at 2:00 pm

Cabrera is in a slump

ouchudied

May 18, 2010 at 2:03 pm

Interesting stat on Porcello shown on FSN.

Innings 1 -3 ERA: 8.5+
Innings 4+ ERA: 2.24

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 2:05 pm

Looks like he has a touch of the “Bondos”.

ouchudied

May 18, 2010 at 2:11 pm

Throwing that meaty fastball with two strikes is not working.

Bill

May 18, 2010 at 2:12 pm

Talking about Juan Pierre, did Rod Allen just sat, “especially guys that are pissed”?

ouchudied

May 18, 2010 at 2:13 pm

‘pests’

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:17 pm

especially pissed pests who passed on the pasta with pesto

ouchudied

May 18, 2010 at 2:39 pm

Did you just say pastrami?

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 2:27 pm

Guys on second with less than two out and not being able to score them could end up costing us the game today.

andre

May 18, 2010 at 2:30 pm

Wait, which team are you talking about?

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:44 pm

That’s the 3rd time already this season Damon has struck out with a runner on 3rd less than 2 out…strange.

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 2:44 pm

At least the Twinkies are behind 11 – 1.

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Binge!

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:46 pm

…or not

andre

May 18, 2010 at 2:47 pm

This is why I hate day games and GameDay. Ignore my 2:46pm.

andre

May 18, 2010 at 2:46 pm

I don’t know whether or not to be mad at Inge; He’s clearly reading this blog instead of watching the game when’s he’s not at bat/in the field…the upside is that we are motivating him.

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 2:55 pm

Wait what happened? My update had Inge homering to make it 4-3, Inge batting 2-3, now it’s 4-2 and Inge batting 1-3.

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:58 pm

Inge hit a long fly into the left field stands that was called a HR on the field, then it was reviewed and it actually had hooked inside the foul pole, so it became strike 2 instead of the HR.

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 3:00 pm

Captain Obvious here to declare: that sucks.

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 2:59 pm

Because Inge is so amazing that he can even un-home-run

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 2:57 pm

Nice throw G-Money!!!!

Tigers Fan in Toronto

May 18, 2010 at 3:03 pm

Good at bat by AJ!!

RoseTattoo

May 18, 2010 at 3:15 pm

I wonder if anyone was supposed to keep Cabrera away from the bars with the White Sox last night. #Fail

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 3:19 pm

With one out in the top of the ugly

kathy

May 18, 2010 at 3:47 pm

Couldn’t drive the runs in today. They might have easily won the game.

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 8:36 pm

I’m with Stephen on the Brandon Laird unholy offspring…the only thing worse would be acquiring a Brandon Willis Everett-Laird III (although he would probably be just the thing telling tales over a nice sherry).

I mean, imagine a player who strikes out like Inge, and when he does make contact, makes it Laird-like, and has bad facial hair, and random freakish skills, and probably sleeps with his eyes open, and is genetically pre-disposed toward groping players’ wives…

He’d have an awesome arm though…

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 9:14 pm

It’s all fine to say Inge should be a 9 hitter not a 6 or 7 hitter, but it’s hardly his fault that he doesn’t bat lower in the order…because: Everett and Laird…I’m just saying…

andre

May 19, 2010 at 8:20 am

This.

stephen

May 18, 2010 at 10:08 pm

Dr. Detroit, I know you like to filibuster and go on and on in rhetorical circles, but Inge is hitting .163 this season with runners in scoring position. Thanks for playing!

Dr. Detroit

May 18, 2010 at 10:12 pm

And he is hitting about .220 total. What, a guy who hits that low is expected to have a high runner-in-scoring position batting average? Come up with a better alternative, Stephen. C’mon, let’s see it. If not Inge, then who?

stephen

May 18, 2010 at 10:57 pm

Not my job to provide an alternative. My job is to argue that Inge is not ‘fine’ as a starting third baseman if you want your team to contend for the World Series. This team won’t win anything with Inge batting higher than ninth. Seriously, give it up. Inge has hit .235 over the past decade while manning two traditional power positions, catcher and third base. No serious baseball fan can argue that he is actually good. You can argue on a stacked offense you could get by with Inge as a defensive whiz batting ninth. That’s not the Tigers.
The year the Tigers made it to the World Series? Inge batted ninth. And, of course, waved at a final strike to end the series.

Dr. Detroit

May 19, 2010 at 8:28 am

Great answer! I’m not necessarily an Inge fan, but you keep on barking out in the night about him and offer what, Ghost Runner on third? At least Keith came up with a viable alternative–Mike Lowell. But now you sacrafice some serious defense.

Teams outside of the Yankees only have so much money that they are willing to spread around, and the fact that we have money tied up in a pretty decent masher at 1B, RF is not too bad(though way over-priced) and our LF corner slot looks very promising, we can forgo the “traditional” power position of 3rd (though before Mike Schmidt came along 3rd was primarily a defense-first position).

I am all for DD drafting a 3rd baseman high. Obviously if Sizemore represents the best of our middle-infielders/3rd baseman, we need a substantial upgrade down in the farm.

Coleman

May 18, 2010 at 11:31 pm

Now now Stephen, I agree with most of your posts but the last strike in the World Series bit is an unnecessary cheap shot…Someone’s gotta make the last out, and Inge was one of the few guys who actually showed up offensively in the series, in fact the ONLY RH batter who did so.

His career is what it is (or what it isn’t, if you prefer); he was good enough in his one postseason though.

stephen

May 19, 2010 at 10:01 am

Coleman, I’m the King of the Cheap Shots, you should know that by now. I’m like a hockey goon.

Keith (Mr. X)

May 19, 2010 at 4:34 am

I mentioned Brandon Laird because 1) he’s a familiar name. 2) he’s one the top hitting 3B in AA right now. He’s currently hitting .285 with a .828 OPS and leads the league in rbi’s with 36, in 37 games played. 3) The Yankees obviously have no future plans for him because of AROD.

Mark in Chicago

May 19, 2010 at 3:38 pm

is Gerald Inge any kind of good prospect?

andre

May 19, 2010 at 5:32 pm

That’s too bad, because after I posted I figured that you were really just kidding. Unless he plays crazy good defense for his position (like Big Bro), I’ll respond to his 1st quarter AA performance with…a yawn. I’m sleepy.

Keith (Mr. X)

May 19, 2010 at 4:52 am

Mike Lowell might be asking to be released from the Red Sox. I’d take him over Inge right now too, but he doesn’t fit into any long-term plans.

Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi A good read on the Tiger's inability to work any deals during the Winter Meetings.
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/12/05/detroit-tigers-winter-meetings/95021824/
I have thought all was

StorminNorman$ http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/12/red-sox-to-acquire-chris-sale.html
DD still making the moves - Sale traded to BOS... the "good news", now DET will only have to

Tony de Florida Agree, without Miggy and JV attendance should go in the tank unless we're getting Trout from the Angels or Jake

Smoking Loon Stormin, in my opinion Detroit is a worse and less interesting team without Verlander and Cabrera, a team without a

StorminNorman$ word on the street is that Tiger fans should get used to mediocrity, unless some of the young players and

Tony de Florida I've been too busy to add my wisdom (please control your laughter) but have been trying to read the blog

StorminNorman$ i could see DD bringing him to BOS to replace Big Sloppy, but i doubt BOS would give up much

Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi V-Mart trade talk:
http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/209950064/tigers-victor-martinez-drawing-interest/
As we know, while the guy can certainly hit a baseball, he isn't the fastest thing around